Abstract: A magnetic sensor module includes an axially polarized back-bias magnet having a body that radially extends from a magnet center axis and a bore extending along the magnet center axis. The magnet generates a radial bias magnetic field about a magnetization axis in a sensor plane. The magnetic field has a magnetic flux density of substantially zero along a perimeter of a zero-field closed loop located in the sensor plane. The magnetic sensor module includes a shim polepiece mechanically coupled to an end of the axially polarized back-bias magnet. The shim polepiece includes a second bore centered on a polepiece center axis that is aligned with the magnet center axis. The second bore extends through the shim polepiece along the polepiece center axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of surge protection devices (e.g., multiple metal oxide varistors connected in parallel) configured to be coupled to a power system, a plurality of mechanical actuators associated with respective ones of the surge protection devices and configured to indicate status of the associated surge protection devices, and a detector circuit configured to sense actuation of the actuators and responsively determine a protection status of the plurality of surge protection devices. The detector circuit may include a plurality of switches configured to be actuated by respective ones of the actuators. The detector circuit may further include a processor coupled to the plurality of switches and configured to determine states of switches and to determine the protection status based on the determined status of the switches. The processor may be configured to interpret the status of the switches based on a stored identifier.

Abstract: An angle sensor includes a plurality of magnetic sensors and a processor. The plurality of magnetic sensors generate a plurality of detection values representing directions of a composite magnetic field, which is a composite of a magnetic field to be detected and a noise magnetic field. The processor assumes a group of estimated unknowns. The group of estimated unknowns is a set of estimated values of a first, a second, and a third unknown. The first unknown corresponds to an angle detection value. The second unknown corresponds to the direction of the noise magnetic field. The third unknown corresponds to the strength of the noise magnetic field. The processor executes a process for determining the group of estimated unknowns a plurality of times, and assumes an estimated value of the first unknown in the last determined group of estimated unknowns as the angle detection value.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting a light-emitting diode wafer is provided. The inspection apparatus includes a Z-axis translation stage, a sensing probe, a height measurement module, a carrier, an illumination light source, and a processing device. The sensing probe is integrated with the Z-axis translation stage. The Z-axis translation stage is adapted to drive the sensing probe to move in a Z axis. The sensing probe includes a photoelectric sensor, a beam splitter, and a photoelectric sensing structure. One of the photoelectric sensor of the sensing probe and the height measurement module is adapted to receive a light beam penetrating the beam splitter, and the other one of the photoelectric sensor of the sensing probe and the height measurement module is adapted to receive a light beam reflected by the beam splitter. The carrier is configured to carry the light-emitting diode wafer. The illumination light source is configured to emit an illumination beam to irradiate the light-emitting diode wafer.

Abstract: An electric meter includes a meter shell configured to be within an outer utility box. A meter socket and blades are for coupling to openings of the socket. The openings include utility-side and premises-side openings for the blades to extend into. A meter processor is coupled to measurement circuitry, and to a communications unit including a transceiver. A gas sensor is positioned proximate to the blades for sensing ?1 gaseous compound product resulting from an arc discharge across air involving the blades. During operation of the electric meter, responsive sensing a presence of the gaseous compound product, the gas sensor generates an output signal. Responsive to the output signal being above a predetermined threshold level, the electric meter triggers an alert signal that is transmitted to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) which indicates an identity of the electric meter and that the electric meter had experienced the arc discharge.

Abstract: A reference via in a set of plated vias on a printed circuit board is located. A reference lead is applied to the reference via. A test via in the set of plated vias is located. A test lead is applied to the test via. An electrical conductance between the reference via and the test via is measured. A property of a core layer of the printed circuit board is identified based on the electrical conductance.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a functional state of an electricity meter, includes generating at least one temperature signal from which an actual temperature value of the electricity meter can be derived; determining whether the actual temperature value and/or a gradient thereof exceeds at least one threshold value derived from at least one predefined temperature curve representing predefined temperature values of the electricity meter over time according to a modelled thermal behaviour of the electricity meter. Further, a computer program, a computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon a computer program, a data carrier signal carrying a computer program, and an electricity meter configured to carry out the computer program are described. Finally, an electricity metering system, in particular an Advanced Metering Infrastructure, includes at least one electricity meter and/or at least one administration device configured to carry out a method of monitoring a functional state of an electricity meter.

Abstract: A current sensor integrated circuit configured to sense a current through a current conductor includes a lead frame at least one signal lead, a fan out wafer level package (FOWLP), and a mold material enclosing the FOWLP and a portion of the lead frame. The FOWLP includes a semiconductor die configured to support at least one magnetic field sensing element to sense a magnetic field associated with the current, wherein the semiconductor die has a first surface on which at least one connection pad is accessible, a redistribution layer in contact with the at least one connection pad, and an insulating layer in contact with the redistribution layer, wherein the insulating layer is configured to extend beyond a periphery of the semiconductor die by a minimum distance. The die connection pad is configured to be electrically coupled to the at least one signal lead.

Abstract: A capacitive imaging glove includes electrodes implemented throughout the capacitive imaging glove and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) such that a DSC receives a reference signal generates a signal based thereon. The DSC provides the signal to a first electrode via a single line and simultaneously senses it. Note the signal is coupled from the first electrode to the second electrode via a gap therebetween. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the first electrode. Processing module(s), when enabled, is/are configured to execute operational instructions (e.g., stored in and/or retrieved from memory) to generate the reference signal, process the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic of the first electrode, and process the electrical characteristic of the first electrode to determine a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and generate capacitive image data representative of a shape of the capacitive imaging glove.

Abstract: Current sensing in an on-die direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converter for measuring delivered power is disclosed. A DC-DC converter converts input voltage to output current at an output voltage coupled to a load circuit. The DC-DC converter includes a high side driver (HSD) circuit to drive the output current in a first stage, and a low side driver (LSD) circuit to couple the power output to a negative supply rail (GND) in a second phase, output current being periodic. The DC-DC converter includes an amplifier circuit to equalize an output voltage and a mirror voltage. Based on the mirror voltage, the current sensing circuit generates mirror current that corresponds to driver current. The mirror current can be measured as a representation of the output current delivered to the load circuit. A plurality of the DC-DC converters can provide multi-phased current to the load circuit for providing power to the load circuit.

Abstract: A fingerprint signal processing system for a fingerprint sensor includes a calibration control circuit, a register circuit, a decode circuit and a normalization circuit. The calibration control circuit is configured to receive a background calibration control signal and an image signal from the fingerprint sensor, and convert the image signal into a plurality of digital signals according to a plurality of offsets. When the background calibration control signal is at a high level, the calibration control circuit is configured to read a plurality of calibration parameters from the register circuit.

Abstract: The present patent application provides an instrument for mastitis detection and analysis, comprising: a computing module, a conductivity detection module and a temperature sensor; the conductivity detection module is used to detect the conductivity of a sample, and is used to send the detected sample conductivity data to the computing module; the temperature sensor is used to detect the sample temperature, and is used to send the sample temperature data to the computing module; the computing module is used to calculate the received sample conductivity and the sample temperature through a detection algorithm, and is used to detect and analyze the mastitis of the sample through the detection algorithm. The instrument for mastitis detection and analysis is convenient to be carried and easy-to-use, it can be quickly immerged into a milk sample to complete the detection, and the detection result can be obtained quickly.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate, a base plate, and a first porous part. The ceramic dielectric substrate has a first major surface and a second major surface on opposite side from the first major surface. The base plate supports the ceramic dielectric substrate and includes a gas feed channel. The first porous part is provided at a position between the base plate and the first major surface of the ceramic dielectric substrate. The position is opposed to the gas feed channel. The first porous part includes a plurality of sparse portions each including a plurality of pores. The plurality of sparse portions are spaced from each other. Each of the plurality of sparse portions extends in a direction inclined by a prescribed angle with respect to a first direction from the base plate to the ceramic dielectric substrate.

Abstract: Sensor assemblies incorporating a temperature varying resistor provide information regarding the temperature of the operating environment for a sensor or protect the sensor from extreme temperatures. The assembly includes only two conductors—one transmitting current from a power source and another transmitting an output signal. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a sensor and a temperature varying resistor in parallel between the conductors with the output signal including information regarding a value of a variable measured by the sensor and information regarding a temperature of an operating environment for the sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor and temperature varying resistor are in series between the conductors with the output signal including information regarding a value of a variable measured by the sensor and the temperature varying resistor preventing delivery of current to the sensor when a temperature of the operating environment for the sensor meets a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Described herein are dielectric fluid testers for determining dielectric breakdown of fluid samples, systems comprising such testers, and methods using thereof. A dielectric fluid tester comprises a container and two electrodes. The test heads of these electrodes protrude inside the container and face each other, forming a gap. In some examples, one or both electrodes are movable for adjusting the gap and/or the volume inside the container available for a fluid sample. For example, the container includes two internal seals, one of which has a fixed position and is slidably coupled to a respective electrode. The other seal is slidably coupled to the container and moves together with the corresponding electrode. The container comprises an access port, providing a fluid communication between the fluid sample and an external pressure-controlling source. In some examples, the access port is used to deliver and remove the fluid sample from the container.

Abstract: A testing apparatus comprises a tester base, a supporting member, a frame, one or more electrical connectors and an upper cover. Each electrical connector includes a set of contact members that are positioned on a substrate and having first and second arm portions made of an electrically conductive material. The one or more electrical connectors are mounted on top of ribs in the supporting members and each of the electrical connectors is separated from an adjacent electrical connector by a respective pair of protrusions formed on opposite sides of the frame. Each of the second arm portions of the set of contact members of each electrical connector are disposed in a respective through hole formed in a panel of the supporting member.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement method is disclosed wherein a magnetic film or stack of layers is patterned into elongated structures having a length along a long axis. A magnetic field (H) is applied in two different orientations with respect to the long axis (in-plane parallel and perpendicular to the long axis) or one orientation may be perpendicular-to-plane. In another embodiment, H is applied parallel to a first set of elongated structures with a long axis in the x-axis direction, and perpendicular to a second set of elongated structures with a long axis in the y-axis direction. From the difference in measured resonance frequency (?fr) (for a fixed magnetic field and sweeping through a range of frequencies) or the difference in measured resonance field (?Hr) (for a fixed microwave frequency and sweeping through a range of magnetic field amplitudes), magnetic saturation Ms is determined using formulas of demagnetizing factors.

Abstract: A diaper wetness detection system includes a diaper, a wetness sensor, an RFID unit, and a transceiver unit. The RFID unit is a battery-less device that receives an interrogation signal transmitted by the transceiver unit. The RFID unit or the transceiver unit are configured to determine if a measurable characteristic, as sensed by the wetness sensor, indicates if the diaper is wet. The measurable characteristic can be a voltage or current indicative of a resistance, capacitance, or impedance at an area sensed by the wetness sensor. The value of the measurable characteristic is different when the diaper is wet versus dry. Comparing the measurable characteristic value to a threshold value or to one or more previously sensed measurable characteristic values enables a determination to be made as to whether or not the diaper is wet. The RFID unit can be detachably coupled to the diaper for simple attachment and removal.

Abstract: A circuit device includes an HS driver that is a USB HS-mode transmission circuit and a disconnection detection circuit that performs disconnection detection of USB. The disconnection detection circuit includes a holding circuit that measures and holds first voltage level information that is voltage level information of one signal out of a DP signal and a DM signal of the USB when the HS driver is transmitting a host chirp, a determination voltage generation circuit that generates a first determination voltage based on the first voltage level information, and a detection circuit that performs disconnection detection of the USB based on the first determination voltage and outputs a disconnection detection signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a nicotine content in a gas mixture. The method includes exposing a metal oxide-based sensor to the gas mixture, applying a temperature profile over time to the metal oxide so that the temperature of the metal oxide, proceeding from a predetermined first temperature level, is brought to a predetermined second temperature level under controlled first transition conditions, and the temperature is brought from the second temperature level to a third predetermined temperature level under controlled second transition conditions, ascertaining a transient specific electrical resistance of the metal oxide at at least one certain point in time during the application with the temperature profile, and determining the nicotine content based on the ascertained resistance. A processing unit and a computer program product for carrying out the method are also described.